BBC News Cumbria

As England enters its third national lockdown, the North West as a whole sits in the middle of the regions in terms of the number of coronavirus cases - but they are rising rapidly.

The North West recorded about 390 positive cases for every 100,000 people over the latest week, the fifth highest of England’s nine regions.

However, in context locally, this was an increase of nearly three quarters on the previous week, the steepest rise across the country.

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In Cumbria, Carlisle had the highest infection rate of about 850 cases per 100,000 people as of the 31 December - this has more than doubled in a week. South Lakeland saw the lowest rate of just under 240 cases per 100,000.

Of those taking lab-based coronavirus tests, Carlisle again had the highest percentage of positive results, at 20%. High positivity suggests more testing is needed to find undiagnosed cases and stop the virus spreading.

North Cumbria NHS Foundation Trust had 112 beds filled with coronavirus patients as of 30 December, a significant increase from 75 the previous week. Many of these extra cases appear to be new admissions.

Overall, there seems to be real contrast across Cumbria in terms of the impact of coronavirus, with some areas affected far more than others. It’s unclear whether this situation will remain, but cases are rising across the board coupled with high positivity.

• Temperature at 3,000ft: About -3C to -2C (27F to 28F)
• Winds: There will be a strong north-easterly breeze throughout the day, with gusts up to 45 to 50 mph
• Cloud: A mostly bright start with cloud building for eastern fells, with cloud bases around 1,600ft to 2,300ft (500m to 700m). Patchy cloud for western fells with cloud bases above the summits
• Weather: A dry early morning with some sunny spells before cloud and wintry showers move in from the east. Showers are most likely to fall on eastern fells
• Visibility: Generally good, but poor on eastern fells above cloud bases and during any showers

Fell Top AssessorsCopyright: Fell Top Assessors

This was the scene along Striding Edge yesterday afternoon, taken by Fell Top Assessor Jon, of the fresh soft snow above compacted older snow and ice.

The trust running hospitals in Carlisle and Whitehaven has declared a level 4 alert, which is the most serious, because of the number of coronavirus patients it is treating.

But what does that mean?

Well it's known as Opel 4 and means there's increased potential for patient care and safety to be compromised.

It means operations could be cancelled and patients sent to other hospitals for treatment.

That's already happening in Cumbria.

Assistant Chief Constable Andy Slattery (pictured). who chairs the Cumbria Local Resilience Forum and is leading the response to the pandemic in Cumbria, told BBC Radio Cumbria hospitals across the region are struggling to cope.

He said: "It's extremely serious, the risk to hospitals in the north is quite severe at the moment, they have more coronavirus patients in the hospitals than they have ever had."

Quote Message: We've already had instances where patients have been diverted to other hospitals locally because the hospitals in the north are under a great deal of strain." from Andy Slattery Cumbria Local Resilience Forum

We've already had instances where patients have been diverted to other hospitals locally because the hospitals in the north are under a great deal of strain."

Cumbria PoliceCopyright: Cumbria Police

• Temperature at 3,000ft: About -3C to -1C (27F to 30F)
• Winds: A strong north-easterly wind throughout the day, with gusts up to 50 to 55mph
• Cloud: Mostly cloudy across eastern fells, with cloud bases to 1,000ft to 1,300ft (300m to 400m) at times, especially in the morning. Clearer on the western fells, with cloud bases above the summits. Bases lifting to 2,000ft to 2,300ft (600m to 700m)
• Weather: A few snow showers moving in from the east, mainly over eastern fells, most likely in the morning. Becoming mostly dry into the afternoon, with sunny spells, especially along western fells
• Visibility: Good for western fells, poorer across eastern fells, especially during any showers

Fell Top AssessorsCopyright: Fell Top Assessors

Wes from the Fell Top Assessors took this pictures of the ridge from Whiteside to Hopegill Head. He says there's a bit less snow than many eastern fells, but conditions remain challenging with the ground well frozen.

Bosses of hospitals in Carlisle and Whitehaven have declared their most serious level alert due to a "significant rise" in coronavirus cases.

The North Cumbria Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust has moved to Opel 4 (Operational Protocol Escalation Level 4), meaning hospitals are "unable to deliver comprehensive care" with "increased potential for patient care and safety to be compromised".

GoogleCopyright: Google

A spokesperson for the trust said: "Due to a significant increase in coronavirus in our community we have seen rising admissions requiring hospitalisation over the last week and in line with our pre-prepared plans we have taken escalated actions to maintain services and patient safety.

"We are extremely grateful to our staff who have been working tirelessly over the past few months with no let up and continue to do so in the interests of our patients."